An Intelligent, Offline-First Driver Safety & Speed Tracking System for the Ghanaian Road Network
Empowering drivers with real-time intelligence — even without internet — to prevent speeding-related accidents and reckless overtaking across Ghana's 70,000+ km road network.
SpeedTrace Ghana is a mobile-based driver assistance and speed management system designed to complement existing enforcement measures such as Traffitech GH. It uniquely functions in low-internet and remote areas using offline GPS, on-device AI, and peer-to-peer mesh networking via Bluetooth and LoRa.
Works without cellular data using GPS and pre-loaded maps
Drivers relay hazards via BLE mesh — no internet required
TinyYOLO model detects oncoming vehicles for safe overtaking
By empowering individual drivers with actionable intelligence, SpeedTrace Ghana aims to reduce speeding-related accidents and reckless overtaking on major and rural roads throughout the country.
Ghana's road network spans over 70,000 km with many sections in remote or poorly connected regions. Speeding contributes to over 50% of reported accidents (NRSA, 2024). Existing enforcement is reactive — fines arrive weeks after the offence. There is no proactive, driver-facing tool for real-time guidance, especially offline.
| Problem | Description |
|---|---|
| Limited connectivity | Internet is unreliable or absent on many highways and rural roads (e.g., Eastern Region corridors, Northern Savannah routes). |
| Reckless overtaking | Poor visibility and lack of oncoming vehicle information cause fatal head-on collisions. |
| No real-time feedback | Drivers only learn they exceeded speed limits when fines arrive weeks later. |
| No community alert system | Hazards like broken trucks, potholes, and sudden rain are not shared among approaching drivers. |
| Underused phone sensors | Modern smartphones have GPS, cameras, and Bluetooth — yet no app uses them for offline road safety in Ghana. |
A free-to-use mobile application for Android and iOS with an optional low-cost hardware extension (LoRa dongle). It operates in three connectivity modes:
GPS speed limit warnings, pre-downloaded maps, on-device AI vehicle detection
Direct phone-to-phone hazard relay within 100–300 m — no internet required
Hazard data relay up to 10 km, ideal for remote convoys and rural roads
The app does not replace enforcement but complements it by reducing the need for fines through voluntary compliance and driver-to-driver safety networks.
The system is built on an offline-first data model where all core functions rely on local SQLite or shared preferences. Cloud connectivity is entirely optional.
| Layer | Technology | Range | Data Type | Internet Required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self | GPS + on-device AI | N/A | Speed, overtaking risk | No |
| Local Peer | BLE mesh | 100–300 m | Text hazard reports | No |
| Extended Peer | LoRa | 2–10 km | Text + low-res location | No |
| Cloud Sync | 4G/5G/Wi-Fi | Unlimited | Trip logs, updates, scores | Yes |
Central backend (Django / Firebase) handles speed limit database updates, anonymised traffic flow aggregation, user accounts, and safe driving scores — only when connectivity is available.
Validate BLE mesh performance on Tema Motorway. Train TinyYOLO on local vehicle types (taxis, trotros, SUVs, trucks). Develop minimal viable app with offline GPS speed alerts and manual BLE hazard reporting.
500 drivers recruited via GPRTU and social media (200 commercial, 300 private). 50 LoRa dongles distributed to early adopters. Success target: 80% of participants report reduced speeding and fewer unsafe overtakes.
Extend to Western, Central, Ashanti, and Northern Regions. Integrate Traffitech GH camera locations. Launch USSD bridge (*714#). Partner with Tecno and itel for pre-installation on new devices.
Deploy 500 solar-powered LoRa repeaters along accident-prone corridors (5 km intervals). Enable government dashboards for anonymised traffic density. Mandate for commercial fleet operators including haulage, STC, and intercity buses.
AI model improvements for pedestrian and animal detection. Integration with emergency services (automated crash alert to 112). Insurance discounts for drivers with high safety scores.
| Stakeholder | Role | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| NRSA | Lead Regulator | Provide speed limit data, enforce complementary measures, endorse the application |
| Police MTTD | Enforcement Partner | Share anonymised camera locations, receive crash reduction reports |
| GPRTU | User Adoption | Train drivers, encourage voluntary participation and uptake |
| Mobile Money (MVIP) | Incentives | Integrate small toll discounts for safe drivers with high scores |
| MTN / Vodafone / AT | USSD & Data | Host USSD bridge, zero-rating for app updates |
| MEST / Kumasi Hive | Development | Build and maintain the app and LoRa integration |
| Bloomberg / WHO | Funding & TA | Support pilot and rural LoRa infrastructure financing |
Funding sources include the government road safety budget, World Bank Global Road Safety Facility grants, and telecommunication CSR programmes.
HIGH IMPACT — Mitigated by partnering with GPRTU, offering in-app rewards, and zero-data updates for users.
MEDIUM IMPACT — Fallback to LoRa; Wi-Fi Aware available on newer Android devices as secondary option.
MEDIUM IMPACT — AI activates only when overtaking intent is detected via turn signal or sudden lane change.
HIGH IMPACT — All hazard reports anonymised; no continuous location tracking; opt-in data sharing model.
LOW IMPACT — Core offline GPS and peer alerts function without camera AI, which is treated as optional.
MEDIUM IMPACT — Engage NRSA and Police from Phase 0; obtain no-objection letter before pilot launch.
Measurable targets for Year 2 after national rollout:
Beyond numbers: drivers in remote areas gain a sense of community safety, reducing reliance on expensive roadside enforcement infrastructure. The model is scalable to other Sub-Saharan African countries.
SpeedTrace Ghana is technically feasible, economically reasonable, and socially impactful. By transitioning from pure enforcement to enabled self-regulation using offline-ready mobile technology, Ghana can significantly reduce speeding and reckless overtaking — even in areas with no internet connectivity.
Immediate next steps to be undertaken by the project sponsor: